UNI hosts teams from around the world for international case competition
The University of Northern Iowa hosted the 25th Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) case competition in March. This event provides students from across the world with unmatched learning experiences in international business.
This year, 64 international students from 16 teams engaged in a best-on-best team tournament, tackling real-world international business challenges. The competition offered unique opportunities to immerse students in midwestern culture on UNI’s campus. Students experienced the true university life while they stayed in on-campus dormitories, an opportunity that is rare for many international universities.
During the competition, participants were challenged with complex problems that demanded integrative thinking and application of classroom concepts. For students, this created a forum for the exchange of ideas and perspectives from a diversity of cultures, testing problem-solving ability, business acumen, cultural insight, communication skills, and teamwork, as teams fought for the chance to progress to the championship round. Babes-Bolyai University of Romania earned the first place position, followed by Bishop’s University of Canada.
One team participated on behalf of UNI, under the tutelage of their coach Lindi Roelofse, T. Wayne Davis Chair in Entrepreneurship at the UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (UNI JPEC). The UNI team consisted of Ben Farlow (marketing, advertising, digital media), Sarena Gerber (business education), Engjella Halili (business analytics) and Vesa Xerxa (business analytics).
“It was an honor to provide these future leaders with a platform to learn and grow. Some students are interested in coming back for a semester abroad during their MBA after experiencing UNI and Iowa. Their perception of both was changed dramatically by the people and environment here,” said Christine Schrage, UNI instructor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship and College of Business Global Opportunities Coordinator.
The 2024 NIBS championship will be held in Dublin, Ireland. For more information about UNI JPEC’s opportunities for students, visit jpec.uni.edu.